Michigan

Foundation gives A2 schools $50,000 grant

The Ann Arbor Educational Foundation has launched a new initiative that will help the Ann Arbor school district's struggling budget.

The foundation, which is separate from the school district, is kicking off its Initiatives For Excellence campaign by providing a $50,000 grant to the district.

The funds will cover training for 15 teachers in the district to learn MyAccess, a software program used to help in literacy efforts. The grant also will help the district work with community nonprofits that offer tutoring to students on how the software works and how to help students use it.

"I think it's a great start," said Wendy Correll, the foundation's executive director. "We're trying to convert former taxpayers to philanthropists."

Prior to the passage of Proposal A in 1994, local school districts could ask voters for money to cover operating costs, including launching new programs. But Proposal A shifted funding to the state and eliminated local districts' ability to go directly to the voters.

That's becoming more of an issue in Ann Arbor as the state's economy worsens, Correll said.

"The economic situation is having ramifications in Ann Arbor," she said.

District officials have already been forced to make millions of dollars in cuts to programs to balance the budget. That's where the foundation hopes to step in.

"We have renewed the ability of the community to have a voice in the funding," Correll said.

District Superintendent Todd Roberts said he is grateful for the support.

"It will really allow us to fully implement the program in grades five to nine," he said. "That's support we'd otherwise have to provide.